Mold and method for making concrete picket-fences.



A. LOSER. MOLD AND METHOD FOR MAKING CONCRETE PICKET FENCES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, I9l5. 1,202,298. A

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Patented Oct. 24,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. A. LOSER.

MOLD AND METHOD FOR MAKING CONCRETE PICKET FENCES.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, I915. 1,202,298. Patented Oct. 24,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HARRY A. resale, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

MOLD AND METHOD FOR MAKING CONCRETE PICKET-FENCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Oct. 24., 1916.

Application filed. January 13, 1915. Serial No. 2,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, HARRY A. LOSER, acitizen of the United States,residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molds andMethods for Making Concrete Picket- Fences, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to mold and method for making concrete fencessuch as are used around inclosure of land, the peripheries of porchesand the like, the roofs of houses and for the side rails of bridges andthe like.

The invention especially relates to reinforced concrete fences for theabove and other purposes.

The objects of the invention are: First, to provide an improved processfor the construction of such a fence or guard; and

second, to provide improved means for molding such a fence.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will behereinafter apparent from the specific nature of the appendeddescription, the invention consists in general in the followingfeatures; first, an improved manner or process, consistingof a series ofnovel steps, suitable and designed for constructing a reinforcedconcrete fence or guard; second, an improved mold arrangement andconstruction for accomplishing the above purposes.

Moreover, the invention consists of certain novel arrangements ofdetails and combina-.

tions of parts, to accomplish the desired results and special processsteps hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, like characters of referenceindicate like parts in the several views, and :-Figure l is a gang moldarranged to mold a series of pickets for the fence, balustrade or thelike which it is desired to construct; Fig. 2 isa perspective view of asupplemental. mold designed to be used with eachipicket to finish thetop thereof; Fig. 3 is a side view of one form of finished picket; Fig.4 is a plan view of the rail molds used with this invention; Fig. 5 is asectional view on the line V-V of Fig. 4:; Fig. 6 is a sectional view onthe line VIVI of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a fence postand adjacent portions of the-connected fence panels as constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of amold used for molding the fence posts;Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper part of one of the moldedposts; Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of a fence constructedin accordance with this invention and suitable for residence lawns,cemetery and park inclosures, gardens and the like; Fig. 11 shows theapplication of the fence to a porch balustrade; Fig. 12 shows theapplication of the fence to a building cornice; Fig. 13

shows the application of the fence to a bridge.

In carrying out the various'objects of this invention, it is first ofall necessary to cast or mold the pickets which make up the principalparts of a fence, balustrade or the like. The means to accomplish thisis clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein there is shown a moldstructure consisting of side plates 1 and a center plate 1*. Between theplates 1 and 1 are arranged dividing bars 2, which all rest on a bottomplate3. These side and center plates and the dividing bars are held inposition for molding by yokes 4: which extend along the side pieces 1,and have ends projecting beyond these side pieces. These yokes 4L arearranged in 0pposed pairs, so that'the ends of each pair are alsoopposite and these opposed ends are stressed together by means of boltsand nuts indicated at 5. It is also to be understood that the yokes 4are preferably attached to the plates 1, in any preferred manneralthough the yokes may, if desired, be separate from the side plates.

WVith this construction there is formed a series of cells and, in orderto produce a pointed or an ornamental top on each picket there isinserted in each cell, just previous to placing the set of molds formedby such cells on the plate 3, a block 6, having therein an ornamentalrecess or depression 7 ,the blocks each being inserted at the bottom ofa respective cell. It is to be understood that each picket is reinforcedwith one or more metallic rods and to accomplish this end thereinforcing bars are lowered into the concrete of the pickets while inthe plastic state. It is also to be understood that the reinforcing ofthe pickets may take the form of a single'bar or a plurality or seriesof bars as may be desired but forthe purpose of illustration there hasbeen shown in Fig. 3 a

picket having a central metallic bar 8 with indicated at 9, thereference character 8 being understood in thegeneral assembly figures,to indicate the picket in 1ts entirety, whether reinforced by one or aplurality of bars.

Whenthe pickets, made in the foregoing or any other suitable manner, areready it is necessary, under the improved process, to assemble a seriesof such pickets in a fence or balustrade panel by connecting them withsuitable railings or top and bottom rails. To-this end there areprovided, in the present invention, certain top. and bottom rail molds"wherein preformed or pre-molded pickets may be inserted for the purposeof connecting such pickets in panel groups. In order to accomplish thispurpose, a bottom rail mold'and atop rail mold are provided, thebottomrail mold being especially adapted to accommodate the lower ends ofthereinforcing elements of the pickets, which project below theconcrete, while the top mold may be applied to the pickets at any pointabove the bottom mold, so that there may be one or more top molds.However, in the present instance there will be described but one topmold'although molds maybe used between the top and bottom as will beobvious. J Each of these upper rail molds and thebottom mold includes abase member or pallet 10 in the form of a channel iron. Extending upwardfrom the channel irons 10 are spaced side membersll, which are supportedin position by brackets indicated generally .at 12. These members 11have-secured thereto molding members 18, and each 'member 11, is-dividedinto upper and lower parts 11 and 11", which are held together by theseveral connected'elements of the brackets 12. Each of the V brackets 12consists of an upper angle iron V the brackets 12. These bolts l l passthrough adjusting slots 16, so that the space between the members 11 maybe regulated if so desired.

The bottom mold has on one, the inner sideprovided'with a series ofspaced openings 17, to receive the lower ends of the pickets 8, asshowninFig. 1 while the outer side member ll of' the bottom mold ispreferably made solid'and in one piece as shown on the left side of Fig.6. The other mold or molds areprovided with oppositely disposed openings18 :to receive the upper parts of the pickets as also shown in Fig. l.The openings 17 and 18. are formed by opposed notches in the meetingedges of the members 11 and ll so that after the rails 28 are molded thesides of the mold may be readily moved from the pickets.

The edges of'the picket receiving openings 17 and 18 are preferablybeveled as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of decreasing the area ofcontact of the surface of themold with that of the inserted pickets,thereby allowing the sections or halves l1 and 11 of a side of the moldto be removed-easily.

This beveled edge construction of the openings 17 and 18, also has theimportant function of permitting one of the rail molds to be placed inadvance or ahead of the other before the pickets 8, are properly placedin whilethe rails connecting the pickets are parallel to the grade.

Each of the molds for the rails is closed at each end by a plate 19,having an outwardly extending boss 20, thereon, In each plate is asocket 21, adapted to receive a pin 22 (see Fig. 7), one end of whichprojects into the mold, so that when the rails 2-3, are cast, thisinwardly projecting end will be cast in the end of the railto aflordconnecting means to the posts as herein after described. These rails 28are preferably reinforced by rods 23, which may be placed in the moldsfor the top and bottom rails'while the concrete is placed in said molds.

The posts are molded in a mold very similar to'the picket mold, but, ofcourse, having different dimensions. This mold consists, as shown inFig. 8, of side members 2 1, and a center member 25, spaced by means ofcross members 26, the whole resting on a base or pallet 27 and beingheld together by bars 28 and bolts 29. Through the members 2% and 25,pass bars 30 which are loose enough to readily slip out of the receivingopenings 31. The members 26 may be provided with ornamenting dies 32, ifdesired, and the tops of the posts may be ornamented asset forth in'thedescription of the picket "mold by the use of a block similar to thatshown in Fig. 2.

When the post mold, shown in Fig. 8, is ready for use, the concrete ispoured into the mold after suitable reinforcing bars have beenpositioned therein. This produces a post33 such as is shown in Fig. 9,the bars 30 being knocked out to leave a transverse opening 34 forthereception of the pins 22 embedded or molded in the ends of the upper andlower rails 23, 'as herein described and shown inFig. 7. Thereinforcingfor the post 33. is indicatedat'34. and preferably projects below thelower end of the post so as to afford connecting means to a base such asis shown at 35, in Fig. 13,

.or the post to be extended to be planted in the ground as at 36,indicated in Fig. 10.

In constructing a fence the pickets are first molded in the mold shownin Fig. 1. They are then assembled in the rail molds as shown in Fig. 4and the panel completed by casting the top and bottom rails. The posts,having been molded, are placed in position alternately with the panels,so that the pins 22 in the rails 28, may be inserted in the openings 34,of the posts 33.

Various modifications may be made to accommodate changes in design,angles to conform to different grades in the structure and other likediflerences without departing from the spirit of my invention, as willbe obvious to one skilled in the art. It is not deemed necessary toillustrate all these modifications but it is wished to include all suchas come within the scope claimed.

\What I claim is 1. The process of constructing a concrete picket panelwhich comprises molding a series of pickets, assembling said picketsinparallel and spaced relation and thereinafter molding concrete railsaround the pickets.

2. The process of constructing a concrete picket panel which comprisesmolding a series of pickets, assembling said pickets in parallel spacedrelation and thereinafter molding concrete rails around and at rightangles to the pickets.

3. The process of constructing a concrete picket panel which comprisesmolding reinforced concrete pickets, assembling ,said reinforcedconcrete pickets in parallel and spaced relation and thereinaftermolding around said pickets spaced rails at right angles to the pickets.

4.. The process of constructing a concrete panel which comprises moldinga plurality of independent concrete pickets, assembling the pickets inspaced relation and therein- .after molding around said pickets spacedCopies of this patent may be obtained for and'thereinafter molding railsaround and at right angles to the pickets in the molds.

7. A mold for integrally combining pickets in spaced relation withconcrete fence rails I ber, a second side member consisting of upper andlower separable sections having opposed and registering notches arrangedto form picket receiving openings.

9. A mold for integrally combining pickets in spaced relation withconcrete fence rails comprising a pallet, a side member, a second sidemember consisting of upper and lower separable sections having opposedand outwardly flaring registering notches arranged to form beveledpicket receiving openings.

10. A mold for integrally combining pickets in spaced relation withconcrete fence rails comprising a pallet, separated lower side members,an upper side member detachably secured to each of said lower members,each of said upper and lower membershaving opposed registering notchesarranged to form picket receiving openings and'means for attaching saidmembers to the pallet.

11. A mold for integrally combining pickets in spaced relation withconcrete fence rails comprising a pallet, separated lower side membersadjustable to or from each other,an upper side member detachably secured to each of said lower members, each of said upper and lowermembers having opposed registering notches arranged to form picketreceiving openings and means for attaching said members to the pallet.

12. A mold for integrally combining pickets in spaced relation withconcrete fence rails comprising a pallet, separated lower side members,an upper side member detachably secured to each of said lower members,each of said upper and lower members having opposed and outwardlyflaring registering notches arranged to form beveled picket receivingopenings and means for connecting said members to the pallet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. LOSER. Witnesses:

L. C. WHITCOMB, CLAUDINE BRIGKELL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,I). C.

